Project Description
This project was named a Merit winner in the 70th Annual Progressive Architecture Awards, and was featured in the March 2023 issue of ARCHITECT.
“The quality of light and the way it would change throughout the day would make this a beautiful building to experience.” —Juror Carrie Byles, FAIA
Designed by local firm architects—Alliance, the Don Mills Jamatkhana and Ismaili Community Centre was dreamed up for the northeast Toronto suburb of Thorncliffe Park, home to Canada’s largest Islamic population. Conceived as a simple Modernist box, the building’s rectangular volume contains four unequal parts, connected by thoughtfully skylit, double-height circulation spaces. The largest volume houses the prayer hall and a roof garden above, while the remaining portions offer an airy gymnasium, a library, and multipurpose teaching spaces for community programming.
Outside, the 4,454-square-meter (about 5,300-square-yard) structure evokes Islamic design, incorporating patterns based on Islamic numerology and geometry. Placed over the glass and metal envelope, perforated patterned screens define the façades, casting varied and mottled light into the interiors.
PROJECT CREDITS
Project: Don Mills Jamatkhana and Ismaili Community Centre, Toronto.
Architect: architects—Alliance, Toronto. Peter Clewes, AIA (managing partner); Rob Cadeau (senior associate); Javier Viteri and Elizabeth George (associates);
Nushin Samavaki, Andrew Harvey, and Sarvenaz Esmaili (intern architects)
Interior Designer: architects—Alliance
Mechanical Engineer: The Mitchell Partnership
Electrical Engineer: Mulvey & Banani, International
Civil Engineer: LEA Consulting
Construction Manager/Developer: Imara National
Landscape Architect: MWLA Landscape Architects
Lighting Designer: Mulvey & Banani, International
Traffic Consultant: WSP
Arborist: Urban Forests Associates Inc.